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Shilohe's avatar
Shilohe
Tin Contributor
Oct 21, 2026

Easy way to find large files in Windows 10 so I can delete them all?

Windows 10 is now warning me the disk space is not enough. It is a middle size SSD and I have been using it for many years. I guess there are many large files as well as duplicate files on it. I need to find them all and delete them easily in order to free up more disk space.

As far as I can remember, there are hundreds of different folders across the three partitions. Can someone suggest a fast way to find large files in Windows 10? I don't want to check the folders one by one.

9 Replies

  • LarkinFox's avatar
    LarkinFox
    Iron Contributor

    I prefer working in the terminal, so I use rmlint—a tool that helps me find duplicate files and other forms of disk space waste. It can process large numbers of files and generate a shell script for reviewing potential items to delete, making it ideal for repeatable cleanup tasks.

    One thing to keep in mind when find and delete large files in windows 10 is that the:

    software focuses on finding duplicate files rather than simply listing the largest files. The tool is primarily designed for Unix-like systems, so if you're using Windows, you'll need a Linux-compatible environment rather than running it as a native Windows application.

     

    Example commands:

    • Find duplicate files in a directory:

    rmlint /path/to/folder

    • Find files larger than 2 GB:

    rmlint --size 2G /path/to/folder

    • Display a progress bar during scanning:

    rmlint -g /path/to/folder

     

    The size filter applies only to the files the software is currently checking; it does not turn the tool into a general-purpose large file browser. By default, the software reports the scan results and generates a script; it does not immediately delete files. Carefully review the contents of the generated script before running it.

    If you want to find and delete large files in Windows 10, you can first use Windows File Explorer or other large file search tools to locate the largest files, and then consider using rmlint to identify redundant copies.

  • AAbner's avatar
    AAbner
    Iron Contributor

    Want to know what's taking up your disk space? If you're wondering How to find large files in windows 10, Czkawka is a handy tool with a graphical interface that can scan for large files, duplicate files, and similar images.

    The Find Large Files feature is a practical option because it lets you search directly for large files, rather than just looking for duplicates. After reviewing the results, you can decide which files to move or delete.

     

    How to Use:

    Open the app and click Add under Included Directories at the top to add the folders or drives you want to scan. Then, in the left sidebar, select the search type: choose Duplicate Files for regular files, or Similar Images to find similar photos.

    Click the Search button in the bottom-left corner of the software; it will quickly identify all duplicate files and generate a list of large files for you to review.

    Next, click the Select button at the bottom to automatically check all redundant copies using the built-in rules. Finally, click Delete or Move in the bottom-right corner—we recommend moving them to the Recycle Bin or a backup folder first.

    I also recommend using other duplicate file finder tools to check for unnecessary copies that are taking up extra space.

    For me, How to find large files in windows 10 became much less of a headache once I started scanning specific folders and reviewing the results before deleting anything.

  • Gordony's avatar
    Gordony
    Iron Contributor

    I use dupeGuru, and I find it useful for finding duplicate photos, documents, and other files that might be taking up unnecessary disk space.

    Here's my experience with it:

    • It's a graphical interface tool that supports Linux, OS X, and Windows, as well as multiple languages.
    • You can scan by filename or content using a fuzzy matching algorithm, so it can find duplicate files even if the filenames aren't exactly the same.
    • The software can also scan music tags and metadata, and does the same for photos.

     

    Key point: This is a duplicate file finder—it's not specifically designed to scan for large files. If your goal is to find and delete large files in Windows 10, you can first use Windows to locate the largest files, then use this software to identify duplicates among them. Remember to double-check the match results before deleting any files.

     

    How to Find and Delete Large Files in Windows 10

    1. First, check which files are taking up the most space in Windows File Explorer.
    2. Then open the software and select a scan mode at the bottom—choose from Standard, Music, or Picture.
    3. Click the + sign in the lower-left corner to add the folders or drive letters you want to scan to the list.
    4. Click the Scan button in the bottom-right corner; the software will quickly analyze the files and display the results window.
    5. In the results, files labeled in plain black are originals, while those labeled in blue are duplicates.
    6. Click Edit -> Mark -> Mark All in the top menu to select all duplicates with a single click.
    7. Click the Actions button in the top-left corner, select Send Marked to Recycle Bin, and confirm to safely complete the cleanup.

    This is a proven method for locating and deleting large files in Windows 10, especially when storage space issues are partially caused by duplicate files.

  • Mikaeliop's avatar
    Mikaeliop
    Iron Contributor

    I previously saw a post on another forum that mainly discussed how to find large files in Windows 10. Someone in the post recommended AllDup, so I downloaded it to give it a try, and I had a good experience using it.

    Let me walk you through How to find large files in windows 10

    Step 1: Download and run the software.

    Step 2: In the software's Source Folders section, drag and drop or check the hard drive partitions or folders you want to scan.

    Step 3: Under Search Criteria, check File Content—this is the most accurate and reliable comparison method.

    Step 4: Click the Start Search button on the top toolbar and wait for the software to identify all duplicate files.

    Step 5: On the results page, click Select to automatically check all unnecessary duplicates based on your criteria.

    Finally, click the red File Manager icon in the top-left corner, select Recycle Bin, and confirm the deletion.

     

    Why do I use it?

    • First: It was recommended to me, and I’ve had a good experience using it myself.
    • Second: It's a duplicate file finder for Windows that compares files based on filename, size, content, and other criteria.
    • It's very useful when you want to clean up redundant copies of documents, photos, videos, or backups—rather than simply deleting files based on file size alone.

    Actually, I think the key to finding large files in Windows 10 is to first check the file sizes and then use duplicate file detection as an additional cleanup step.

  • AsherReed's avatar
    AsherReed
    Iron Contributor

    I watched my sister use CleanMate last week to find large files in Windows 10, and she cleared out a ton of space successfully. Honestly, it looked almost too simple.

    She opened CleanMate, clicked "Large Files," picked her drive, and let it scan for a couple of minutes. Then she reviewed the list, unchecked what she wanted to keep, and hit delete. Done—no command lines, no manual folder digging.

    What I like most is that it doesn't wipe everything blindly; it shows you what it found and waits for your confirmation. That's why it's a safe way to find large files in Windows 10 without accidentally removing something important. She's not techy at all and figured it out in one sitting.

    If you've been putting off cleaning your drive, CleanMate makes it painless. Just review the list before deleting—that's the only tip I'd pass on. It's easily the simplest tool I've seen to find large files in Windows 10 and actually do something about them.

  • XanderHart's avatar
    XanderHart
    Iron Contributor

    I used a Windows PowerShell script to find large files in Windows 10 by scanning a folder and its subfolders, filtering files by size, and sorting the results from largest to smallest. It helped me identify files worth reviewing before freeing up disk space. This approach is free and uses built-in Windows tools.

    Main PowerShell script:

    Get-ChildItem "C:\Users\$env:USERNAME\Downloads" -File -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |

    Where-Object { $_.Length -ge 100MB } |

    Sort-Object Length -Descending |

    Select-Object FullName, @{Name="SizeMB";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Length/1MB,2)}}

    This lists files at least 100 MB in your Downloads folder and its subfolders. Change the folder path if needed.

    I found this useful for finding large files in Windows 10 without installing extra software. After reviewing the results, I deleted only files I recognized and no longer needed. This is a practical way to find large files in Windows 10, but the script only lists files; it does not delete them automatically. Avoid deleting Windows system files or anything whose purpose you don't understand.

  • AlexTaylor's avatar
    AlexTaylor
    Iron Contributor

    I actually started looking up find large files in windows 10 because I was tired of opening hundreds of folders just to see what was eating up my disk space. That's when I stumbled upon Treelens. It's a relatively new tool that scans your drives and shows everything in a visual treemap, which makes spotting those massive files and folders so much easier.

    How to Find Large Files in Windows 10:

    1. Scan your drives

      Download Treelens from the official GitHub releases page and open the program. Select the drive or folder you want to analyze.

    2. Find the largest files

      Review the visual treemap, where larger rectangles represent items using more disk space. You can also check the top-50 files and folders in the side panel.

    3. Check before deleting

      Select a large item to inspect its name, location, and size. Drill into folders to identify old downloads, videos, archives, or other files you may no longer need.

    4. Free up space

      Select unwanted personal files and use the delete option to move them to the Recycle Bin. Scan the drive again afterward to see how much space you have recovered.

     

    It efficiently scans your drives and lets you review the results in the side panel. A handy duplicate finder is also built in for removing extra copies. For spotting the biggest space hogs, the standout feature is definitely the "Top 50" list—it immediately surfaces the largest files, saving you from manually digging through directories.

    ✴️Still, verify the file paths before hitting delete—you don't want to accidentally break system or app files. Also, note that files currently in use might be skipped by the scanner.

  • JacksonGreen's avatar
    JacksonGreen
    Iron Contributor

    Digging through hundreds of folders just to find out what's eating up your storage space is a massive pain. That's why I always use WinDirStat. It scans your drives and builds a visual map, so massive files and space-consuming folders stand out instantly. It's a fantastic way to tackle how to find large files in Windows 10, and it's way more practical than checking every directory manually.

    How to Find and Review Large Files:

    Step 1: Download WinDirStat from the official website and select the partitions you want to analyze.

    Step 2: Review the treemap, where larger rectangles represent files taking up more disk space. The directory list also helps you locate the folders containing them.

    Step 3: Select a large item to identify its location and determine whether it's an old download, video, archive, or another file you no longer need.

    Step 4: Delete unwanted personal files through File Explorer or move them to another drive. Repeat the scan afterward to check the results.

    Sure, WinDirStat makes it easy to spot heavy space usage, but it won't tell you what's actually safe to delete or reliably find all duplicates. Plus, scanning large drives can take a while. It's a solid visual guide for how to find large files in Windows 10. Just make sure to review those system files carefully before removing them.

  • JackMoore's avatar
    JackMoore
    Iron Contributor

    When a drive has only a few gigabytes left, I find it easier to scan the whole drive rather than open folders one by one. Folder Size Explorer can help identify where the space is going, especially when large files are spread across several drives. It gives you a clearer starting point to decide what you can safely remove.

    What This Method Provides:

    • Folder size overview — Shows which folders consume the most storage.
    • Drive analysis — Helps identify space-heavy areas across different drives and directory trees.
    • Cleanup guidance — Makes it easier to decide which large files are worth reviewing before deleting them.

     

    How to find large files in windows 10:

    1. Visit the official download page and install Folder Size Explorer.
    2. Open the program and select the drive or folder you want to inspect, starting with C:.
    3. Start the scan and wait for the folder sizes to appear. Check the largest folders first, then open them to locate large files.
    4. Look for old videos, installers, archives, or personal files you no longer need. Delete them only after confirming what they are; move anything you want to keep to another drive.

     

    The main limitation is that large files are not always safe to remove, as some may belong to Windows or installed applications. Review each file before deleting it. This makes it easier to manage disk space and gives you a practical way to approach how to find large files in windows 10 without checking every folder manually.